Tea and health benefits

Health Benefits

A cup of tea is often the first thing to be shared or offered in a crisis and you don't need to drink a tub full to gain some health benefits, drinking as few as three cups of tea a day can offer protection against a whole heap of conditions.

It's the antioxidants (called Polyphenols or flavanoids) in tea that are the healthy bit. You may be surprised to learn that both green and black teas contain about the same amount of antioxidants even though it's usually green tea that we associate with health benefits. Green tea contains flavonoids called catechins whereas those in black tea are called theaflavins and thearubigins.

Studies have shown tea to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties as well as giving protection against some cancers. Lately, tea has been shown to have cholesterol lowering properties and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Tea can also help with weight control since it can speed up the burning of calories.

Keeping rehydrated is important and tea counts towards your daily dose. According to the department of health, a mug of tea contains approximately half the amount of caffeine as a mug of filter coffee and a little less than your average can of sports drink so combined with the additional health benefits, tea drinking ticks a lot of boxes.

When has something so pleasurable ever been good for you? And after water it's not only the most commonly drunk beverage in the world, with health benefits, it's also the cheapest!